Take your engineering studies to the next level in Madrid! From aerospace to biomedical engineering, you’ll find rigorous courses in English and Spanish that expand your thinking with theory and case studies alike. Travel beyond Madrid to investigate engineering feats in other parts of Spain. Discover Madrid’s many treasures, from the premier Prado museum to tapas at the lively San Miguel market.

Biomedical Engineering

Watch this video to see what it’s like to study biomedical engineering at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (English begins at one minute. (Video is the property of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.)

world-class art museums within steps of each other

minutes - longest you’ll walk to find green space

residents

Your Destination

Madrid’s influence in politics, education, science, entertainment, media, fashion, and arts make it an important international metropolis, and a major hub in Southern Europe. Spain’s capital city is also its largest, with a historic center dating back to the Hapsburg Empire, and world-renowned art museums. A huge variety of tapas bars, dance shows, concerts, outdoor parks, soccer matches, ethnic neighborhoods, and contemporary theater and cinema make it a lively place to live and learn.

Tutors and study groups. Sign up for a UC3M faculty-led study group for one of your STEM courses. Get the support you need to complete course work successfully. With CIEE supervision, students can also find a grad student or classmate to help them get the most of class. In general, tutorials meet for one hour, once a week.

Internships. Got advanced Spanish skills? Internships are competitive here, but we’ll help you make it happen.

HOUSING

Homestay. Living with a Spanish host is a great way to absorb the language and culture. Hosts range from families to individuals, and they may welcome one or two students. Each student has a private bedroom and shared kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities.

Shared apartments. Students can live with other CIEE students and a Spanish student with apartments that have single or double rooms. Utilities, cleaning, laundry facilities, and internet access are included.

Commuting. Host homes and housing are all in central Madrid with a 40- to 60-minute commute to campus, and a shorter commute to the CIEE Global Institute. Year-long students can opt to live in independently-found apartments during their second semester, provided they have Spanish-speaking roommates. Students are responsible for finding, leasing, and managing apartments, and need prior approval from CIEE and their university.

MEALS

Homestay: Hosts provide breakfast plus one hot meal a day. Students purchase the rest of their meals on or nearby campus.

Madrid, Spain

Where You'll Study

A

Global Institute

Madrid

B

UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID (UC3M)

LEGANÉS. This campus houses the Engineering Department and is 30 to 40 minutes south of central Madrid via public transit.
The GETAFE GETAFE. Campus is a 45-minute commute from central Madrid.

C

Getting Around

Students walk or use public transportation.

Like what you're seeing so far?

What you need to know

The program details

This program combines Spanish language and European and Spanish cultural studies with coursework in engineering, and includes the opportunity to participate in an academic internship during the semester.

Local university courses in aerospace, energy, or biomedical engineering are taught in English only. Other university courses in audiovisual, communication, computer, electrical, electronic, industrial, materials, mechanical, telecommunication, and telematics engineering are taught in either English or Spanish.

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). Established in 1989, UC3M is recognized as Spain's most prestigious institution of higher education. It follows a U.S. academic calendar, and has one of the highest percentages of full-time and tenured female faculty in Spain.

CIEE students can take classes in three schools: Arts and Humanities, Business and Law, and Engineering. Engineering classes are held on the Leganés campus, 30 to 40 minutes south of downtown Madrid via efficient, modern public transit.

Academics

CLASS FORMAT

CIEE electives and Spanish language classes are only for CIEE students. UC3M classes are taken in English or Spanish, depending on student language level – all of these classes are open to both local and other international students. Engineering School courses follow lecture format for the first four to six weeks, and then switch to lab work or smaller group sessions. It’s common for a course coordinator instruct with a co-teacher who alternates teaching lectures with performing lab research. Most courses also incorporate online coursework.

GRADING

At UC3M, students are graded on class participation, class activities, homework assignments, exams, papers, and/or oral presentations, similar to the traditional U.S. system. Professors give numeric grades based on a 10-point scale, which CIEE converts to recommended U.S. letter grade equivalents. The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used for CIEE courses, where students are graded on the basis of attendance, class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and mid-term and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in course syllabi.

ACADEMIC CULTURE

Engineering courses are academically challenging and involve daily reading and homework assignments. Attendance at lectures is required. Classes range in size from 25 to 80 students, and classrooms are modern and comfortable. Coursework and exams are to be completed as assigned, on schedule. Internship participants meet regularly with the course coordinator and other CIEE students, in addition to time at the placement organization. CIEE students enrolled in fall UC3M courses in the Engineering Department can arrange to take early exams in December. Early departure is not allowed in the spring semester.

Eligibility

OVERALL GPA

Students need to have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Curriculum

Program Credit

Total credit, semester: 15-18 semester/22.5-27 quarter hours

Total credit, year: 30-36 semester/45-54 quarter hours

Students need 15 – 18 semester credits, comprised of any combination of courses at CIEE, UC3M, and UC3M SAP.

Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.

CIEE ELECTIVES

UC3M STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM (SAP) ELECTIVE COURSES

Spanish Art Masters in Madrid Museums
The course will cover the different artistic movements that have taken place in Spain from the 16th century on, and the logic behind the development of styles like Renaissance, Baroque, Romanticism, Cubism or Surrealism, to name just a few. It will emphasize the specifics of art production in Spain within its European context, as well as aspects of patronage and the art market. The achievements of leading Spanish artists such as El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Picasso or Dalí will make up the core of the course. They will be analyzed against the important presence in Spain of artists from other areas of Europe, especially Italy and the Netherlands, including Titian, Bosch and Rubens.(English)

Spain in Progress: Spanish Society today
Through the study of current events in today’ Spain, the course will grant a vast comprehension of the Spanish society at the present time. However, one major focus will be the study of contemporary Spanish history of the last century. In the context of a complex and rapidly changing world, the history of the twentieth century faces remarkable opportunities. It is an important factor of social cohesion, as it is one of the first forms of social consciousness and regional and group identity. Thus, a large part of the contents of the course will be linked to the Spanish national culture and vision of the past. (English)

Spain and the European Union: Political and Economic Issues
This introductory course will review the creation of the modern Spanish democracy, its integration in the EU and the impact and challenges of this relationship. (English)

Spanish Language: Basic Level I
The basic course is aimed toward achieving level A1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. By completing this course, the student will be able to solve basic communication tasks, understand, interact and express themselves in these situations in oral and written standard Spanish and use new language strategies to communicate in everyday situations.

Spanish Language: Basic Level II
This basic course corresponds to the A2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. By completing this course, the student will be able to use the language as a means of communication and self-expression, in class and in everyday situations, understand and interact in those situations in oral and written standard Spanish and approach the most relevant social aspects of everyday life and recognize the most common ways of social interaction.

(courses are offered in English; a selection of these courses may also be available in Spanish to heritage or advanced-level speakers, subject to a possible proficiency assessment):

Art History
Business Administration
Economics
Employment and Labour Relations
Film, Television, and Media
Finance and Accounting
History and Politics
Humanities
International Studies
Journalism
Law
Management and Technology
Management of Information and Digital Contents
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Political Science
Sociology
Statistics and Business
Tourism

​REQUIRED SPANISH LANGUAGE COURSES

Students are required to enroll in one of the following intensive Spanish language courses at the start of their first semester of participation in the program. Students who place at the near-native speaker level, or prove they are Spanish heritage students with a bilingual level can be exempted from this requirement with home school permission.

UC3M SPANISH OR EUROPEAN CULTURE, POLITICS, OR SOCIETY COURSES

Offered in English

Art History I
Art History II
Classics
Contemporary History of Spain
Economic Progress in Spain, 1850-2000
Film Narrative
Gender and Policies of Equality
History of Cinema
History of Spain
Information and Conflict: The Media and Violence I
Journalism and Social Change in Spain
Media Landscape
Political Philosophy
Social Theory
Spain in Progress: Contemporary Spanish Society
Spanish Art Masters in Madrid Museums
Spanish Politics II
The Process of European Economic Integration

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.

YOUR FEE INCLUDES:

Tuition

Housing

Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions

Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet

Two-day orientation – an introduction to Spanish culture, your academic program, and the city, plus practical information about living in your host city

Full-time program leadership and support in your host city

Field trips and cultural activities

Overnight excursions

Insurance and other travel benefits, with CIEE iNext

24/7 emergency on-site support

No Hidden Fees

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Fees & Housing

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300
*

Educational Costs = $13,308
**

Housing = $4,675
***

Insurance = $167

Total Fees = $18,450

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300
*

Educational Costs = $13,308
**

Housing = $4,675
***

Insurance = $167

Total Fees = $18,450

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits.

Participation Confirmation = $300
*

Educational Costs = $25,238
**

Housing = $9,350
***

Insurance = $167

Total Fees = $35,055

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** homestay option includes daily breakfast and dinner

† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

†† academic year students who wish to stay onsite are responsible for arranging their housing and meals during the semester break

*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, ask your college or university study abroad advisor if your school charges additional fees for study abroad.